Leonard Stanley welcomed
neighbours Frocester to the rec on a wild, windy and sometimes wet
Saturday afternoon. Stanley Skipper, Rob Walker, won the toss and
asked Frocester to bat first. Openers P. Spyvee and Dan Whincup
found it hard to score runs against some very tight bowling from
Nash and Kinman-Pearmain. With only 33 on the board after 13 overs,
Stanley introduces debutant Jack Kimber into the attack. This
heralded the first heavy shower of the afternoon which the players
tried to play through. It eventually became too much and the teams
left the field for 10 minutes. On their return, Kimber had Spyvee
trapped LBW for 30. Rich Tuck tried to increase the run rate but
skied one to Gabb at mid-wicket for 14. Beese and Stotesbury fell
for 14 and 10 respectively and apart form Shaun Little stroking 19
at no. 9, no other batsman made double figures. Frocester finally
struggled to 130 for 8 from their allotted 40 overs. Ed Nash was the
puick of the Stanley bowlers with figures of 11-3-24-3, Scott
Kinman-Pearmain taking 4 for 54.
After Erica and Scott's
excellent tea, Stanley Openers Groves and Gabb set about overhauling
the Frocester total. Unlike Bohemian Rhapsody, it didn't last long.
Starting at 6 per over Liottle and Whiffen were despatched to all
parts of the park. Stanley's only casualties being Gabb for 18 (3 x
4's) and Walker for a third ball duck. Groves, who despite the
rumours, doesn't drive a tractor, saw the innings through on 67 n.o.
(8 x 4's & 1 x 6) and the self demoted Fry 40 n.o. (3 x 4's & 1 x
6). The Frocester total being surpassed in the 18th over.
Many thanks to Jim Clarkson for umpiring in
trying conditions.
